Man walks 'long the railroad tracksHe's Goin' some place, and there's no turnin' backHighway Patrol choppers comin' up over the ridgeMan sleeps by a campfire under the bridgewith Shelter line stretchin' around the cornerWelcome to the new world orderFamilies sleepin' in their cars out in the southwestNo home, no job, no peace, no restNo rest!

The highway is alive tonightnobody's kiddin' nobody as to where it goesI'm sitting down here in the campfire lightSearchin' for the ghost of Tom Joad

He pulls his prayer book out of his sleepin' bagthe Preacher lights up a butt and takes a dragHe's waitin' for the time when the last shall be first and the first shall be lastIn a cardboard box 'neath the underpasswith one way ticket to the promised landwith a hole in your belly and a gun in your handSleepin' on a pillow of solid rockBathin' in the cities aqueductRock!

The highway is alive tonightWhere its headed everybody knows I'm sittin' down here in the campfire lightWaitin' on the ghost of old Tom Joad

Now Tom Said, "Mom, wherever you seen a cop beatin' a guyWherever a hungry new born baby criesWhere there's a fight against the blood and hatred in the airLook for me Mom, I'll be thereWherever there's somebody fightin' for a place to standfor decent job or a helpin' handWherever somebody's strugglin' to be freeLook in their eyes Mom you'll see me.

The highway is alive tonightNobody's kiddin nobody as to where it goesI'm sitting down here in the campfire lightwith the ghost of Tom Joad